Almost two out of three voters in a Patch poll on senior housing in Barrington would be interested in such a development.

The poll asked the question: Would you be interested in living in a senior housing development in Barrington?  

The three answers got the following responses:

• Yes, it would be an option to consider (64%)
• Maybe, depending on if its a rental or owned (10%)
• No, not interested at all (25%)

There were 48 responses over 4 days.

Barbara Donovan, an advocate for senior housing in Barrington, approached Patch to do a poll after being asked at a Housing Board of Trustees meeting if she knew how much interest there is in Barrington for housing complex that is age-restricted. The board is the most recent town committee she has approached with her pitch for senior housing.

The non-scientific poll provides some additional insight.

Here are a few of the comments made by readers to the poll and Donovan’s crusade for senior housing in Barrington, and some clarification made by her.

Linda

Barbara is not proposing affordable senior housing. She wants market value home ownership or rentals. The town would collect taxes on these units, except for the 20% which has to be affordable based on law, those would be taxed at a lower rate.

Barbara Donovan

Yes Linda - you are right on. Sr. housing is very important. It retains a certain amount of independence which, as one grows older is very important. Everybody doesn't need to be subsidized. Every person needs companionship at all ages and that is what Sr. housing is all about

Barbara Donovan

For some reason my goal for Sr. housing in Barrington has been mistaken. I am NOT proposing an "affordable" complex. I am proposing a retirement community for people over 55 who wish a compatible and comfortable place to live when they no longer want to stay in their homes. There are many reasons one might want to move into such a community. They are now alone because of the loss of spouse and want companionship, or perhaps just tired of cutting grass and shoveling snow, or a hundred other personal reasons.

It's a win-win situation -- the seniors get their community living and the town gets it's tax money !! The government in their self appointed job of telling all of us how we should live is making our choices very difficult. There are so many regulations it almost makes one want to give up.

NOT ME, and I hope not any of you. I know there may be a way to do this - it is just a matter of putting our heads together and making it happen !!

garymm

The question is where the funding is coming from. Generally, the broadest funding is for housing that is open to anyone who meets the qualifications for "affordable". If you narrow the scope of who this is for, the funding goes down.

Right now, the plan is to have Sowams open to anyone who meets a household income of 80% of the Barrington median income as determined by HUD. That is around 70K.

Scott Clark

That's the plan largely because of the developers showing up to bid on the work (and doing so because that funding is theoretically easier to tap from the state).

It'd would be great if we could find a way to compel a developer who does affordable *senior* housing.

Failing that, the major marketing push for the potential Sowams development could target seniors who by and large would probably fit the requirements for affordable housing.

Marge

Well it will be interesting to see what the Town of Barrington does do for the seniors who have spent their entire life here (myself included) paying taxes etc. This town has historically ignored their Seniors. With that said I am all ears to hear further news and comments.

Manifold Witness

Uh oh. Not a good sign. Lone Barbara WANTS a non-scientific poll?! Barbara's misusing outdated data.

“Government” reaction? As expected. Only much worse. Another play for the unsuspecting taxpayers.

Barbara needs actual facts, not old data grouped to mask the real issues:

The Barrington budget is too high so Barrington taxes are too high. The school budget needs to be cut.

The old Barrington method (“churn-the-families-through-the-school-system-and-then-they-move-out-because-the-taxes-are-too-high” ) doesn't work anymore.

As the elderly population grows (14%, 65 & over) and the number of school children shrinks (down 10%), elderly voters will demand the budget be reduced & the taxes be reduced. Then the Barrington elderly can stay where they really want to be – in their own homes.

The Housing Board must get their own house in order before they think of moving forward with another ill-advised project. Mr. Hervey needs development projects to justify his full time Planner job in a town that’s just about all built out.

1% of Barrington’s population is already in elderly housing at Bay Spring Atria. Barrington does not need to build any more housing.

RI does not need to build any more housing. Get real data & cut government spending, Barbara. Then the ol’ folks 55 & over can afford to stay home.

See “NiceTry” comment.